Christ Compared to an Eagle

    CHRIST COMPARED TO AN EAGLE

    "Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on Eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself" Ex 19:4.

    "As an Eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings; so the Lord alone did lead him," &c. De 32:11-12.

    "And to the woman were given two wings of a great Eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness," &c. Re 12:14.

    SOME say, that the word aetov, Aquila, an Eagle, is derived of aissw, to be carried violently: others from an intensive a, and etov, which signifies a year, because it is lively, from whence came the proverb, Vivacior Aquila, livelier than an Eagle. Others say, that the Latin, Aquila, is derived ab aquilo colore, from its dun colour. For its swiftness and seldom returning, Job says, Job 9:26, "My days pass away as the Eagle," &c., that is, swiftly, and never to return. Because of its velocity and forcible flight, it denotes the quick invasion of an enemy, Jer 48:40; 49:22; Ho 8:1; Mic 1:16, which describes the greatness of the calamity.

    "I have borne you on Eagles' wings," Ex 19:4; that is, the Lord hath lovingly supported and cherished you, as Eagles do their young; who bear them safe over craggy and dangerous places, see Jer 4:13; La 4:19. It is said, Ps 103:5, "Thy youth is renewed like the Eagle's;" that is, he hath strengthened thee so, as to go through all difficulties, &c.: Galatinus saith, that the Messiah is called an Eagle, Pr 30:19, (&c.)

    But in the texts alleged, viz., De 32:12; Ex 19:4, (&c,) the Lord is compared to an Eagle, with respect to the protection and safety of his people, the swiftness of his deliverances, and his tender care and affection to them.

    The great Eagle, Annotators tell us,[1] signifieth the Lord Jesus: and it seems to be an allusion to that flight of the Church from Egypt to Canaan, which she undertook not by her own counsel, but by the Lord's command; and performed not by her own strength, but by the Lord's. As the church of Israel fled from the dragon, Pharaoh, as he is called, Eze 29:3, so the Christian Church fled from the serpent or dragon here, with two wings of a great Eagle, Re 12:14.[2]

    [1] Ainsworth, Wilson.

    [2] Ainsworth.

    Now, though I deny not but these scriptures refer to God the Father; yet may they as safely, and in the judgment of some, more properly refer to the Lord Jesus Christ. Stephen, speaking of Christ, saith, "This was he that was with the fathers in the wilderness, which spake to them in Mount Sinai," &c.

    SIMILE

    I. The Eagle is a royal bird,[3] the princess or queen of all the birds of the air.

    [3] See Caryl on Job 39:30.

    PARALLEL

    I. Jesus Christ is the Prince of the kings of the earth, King of kings, and Lord of lords, Re 1:5, and Re 19:16. As the Eagle among birds, so Christ, both amongst men and angels hath the preeminence.

    SIMILE

    II. The Eagle is a very strong fowl; naturalists speak much of the Eagle in this respect: Eagles carry the prize, saith Pliny, both for honour and strength.

    PARALLEL

    II. The Lord Jesus Christ is called the Mighty God: "I have laid help on one that is Mighty," Ps 89:19. For strength he is compared to a lion. What is all human and natural power, to the strength and power of Jesus Christ!

    SIMILE

    III. The Eagle mounts up exceeding high, out of the reach or sight of men, Job 39:27.[4]

    [4] Plin. lib. x. cap. 3.

    PARALLEL

    III. The Lord Jesus, after his resurrection, mounted up exceeding high, into the highest heavens, far out of the sight of man's natural eye, where he cannot be reached by wicked men or devils, Eph 4:12; Heb 7:26.

    SIMILE

    IV. The Eagle hath a very piercing eye: when she is on high, can see down to the earth, nay, behold the small fish in the sea.[5]

    [5] Plin.

    PARALLEL

    IV. Jesus Christ hath a wonderful piercing eye, seeth not only from the highest clouds, whither the Eagle mounts, but from the highest heaven; can look into the secrets of every man's heart, even into the hell of wicked men's diabolical counsels, and can thoroughly see their bloody purposes and contrivances; although they dig never so deep, yet they cannot hide themselves from his omniscience, for he sees what they are doing.

    SIMILE

    V. The Eagle is a mighty swift creature: "My days are swifter than an Eagle." She is swift in pursuit of her prey, De 28:49; Job 9:25; 2Sa 1:23; Job 8:1.

    PARALLEL

    V. The Lord Jesus is swift when he comes to fight gainst the enemies of his Church, he is swift in the executing of his judgments, swift to deliver and help his people. See metaphor, Sun, Hart, &c.

    SIMILE

    VI. The Eagle, historians tell us,[6] fights with dragons and serpents and overcomes them.

    [6] Plin. lib. x, cap. 4.

    PARALLEL

    VI. Jesus Christ, the spiritual Eagle, fought with that great red dragon the devil, and hath bruised the head of the dragon, Ge 3:15.

    SIMILE

    VII. The Eagle hath strong and long wings, which she easily spreads forth for the succour and help of her young, Eze 17:3.

    PARALLEL

    VII. The Lord Jesus hath strong love, enlarged and great affection, which like two long wings he stretcheth out easily in the way of his gracious providences, for the help and succour of his people; he shall arise with healing under his wings, Mal 4:2.

    SIMILE

    VIII. The Eagle bears and carries her young upon her wings, takes them, beareth them upon her wings, De 32:11-12.

    PARALLEL

    VIII. The Lord Jesus beareth and carrieth his faithful children upon the wings of his power and sovereign grace; thus he bare and carried Israel of old, "I have borne you upon Eagle's wings," "Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, who are borne by me from the belly, which were carried from the womb; I will bear you, I will carry you," &c., Ex 19:4; Isa 46:3-4.

    SIMILE

    IX. The Eagle hides her young in high and mighty rocks, where her nest is, even in the same ragged place of inaccessible rocks.

    PARALLEL

    IX. The Lord Jesus hides his children in the secrets of the Almighty, that glorious Rock of ages: "Their place of defence shall be a munition of rocks," Isa 33:16. David knew what he did, when he fled to God for shelter: "Under the shadow of thy wings, will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast, Ps 57:1. See Refuge.

    SIMILE

    X. The Eagle's voice, naturalists tell us,[7] is so terrible, that when he is angry, he makes all living creatures to be afraid. Dracones audito clangore aquilarum, fugerunt in speluncas: the dragons when they hear the angry voice of the Eagles, fly into the dens to hide themselves.

    [7] Wolfsang. Frantz. Hist. Animal, de Aquil. 325. 338.

    PARALLEL

    X. Jesus Christ when he utters his voice in anger, and rises up to the prey, he will cause all the inhabitants of the earth to tremble: "They will call to the hills and mountains to fall upon them, and to hide them from the face of him that sitteth upon the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb," Re 6:16. Nay, the time will come, when the old dragon will be glad to fly into his den. The devils were afraid of him, when he came as a Lamb: "Art thou come to torment us before the time?" "Be wise now therefore, ye kings; be instructed, O ye judges of the earth: kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him," Ps 2:10,12.

    SIMILE

    XI. The Eagle's way in the air cannot be known.

    PARALLEL

    XI. The way of Christ's love, wisdom, providence, &c., cannot be known or found out to perfection, Job 11:17; Eph 3:19.

    SIMILE

    XII. Historians say, the Eagle can look on the sun in its brightest splendour without being dazzled. She tries her young ones the same way, to see whether they be her true offspring; for if they cannot behold the sun, but wink, or their eyes water, she turns them out of their nest, and disowns them, as degenerates or bastards.

    PARALLEL

    XII. Jesus Christ hath a glorious and clear sight, can behold with open face the glory of the excellent Majesty, and the highest splendour and beauty of that immortal and inaccessible light, which no natural eye can approach unto. And although none of his people can see as he seeth, who is infinite in knowledge; yet those that pretend to be his offspring, and are not like him in grace, heavenly-mindedness, and holiness, nor endeavour after it, from that excellency they behold in it, Christ will utterly disown them, as being none of his seed or offspring, Php 2:5-6; 1Pe 1:16; Col 3:1.

    SIMILE

    XIII. The Eagle trains up her young to be like herself, and to mount up as she mounts.

    PARALLEL

    XIII. The Lord Jesus teacheth all his people to be like himself, as far as they are able, and to mount up as with eagles' wings, and to live on high, Isa 40:31.

    SIMILE

    XIV. The Eagle is very careful and tender of her young.

    PARALLEL

    XIV. So is the Lord Jesus of his people, Joh 21:15.

    SIMILE

    XV. Naturalists tell us,[8] the Eagle gives her young ones of her own blood, when she cannot get other blood for them to drink.

    [8] Ælian. 1. 14. c. 14. See Caryl on Job 39.

    PARALLEL

    XV. The Lord Jesus suffered himself to be wounded for us; his hands and feet, yea, his very heart was pierced, that we might have his blood to drink in believing: "My blood is drink indeed," Joh 6:55.

    SIMILE

    XVI. The Eagle is very long-lived. The Greeks express her by a word signifying longevity. And some give the reason, not only from the excellent temperament of her body, but because she lives in such a pure air, free from all evil vapours, and noisome smells.

    PARALLEL

    XVI. The Lord Jesus Christ is not only long-lived, but he lives for ever, Re 1:18. He was from everlasting, and he will be to everlasting. He is the King eternal, the Father of eternity Isa 9:6.

    METAPHOR

    THE Eagle hath many evil qualities: she is neither fair nor comely, hath no sweet voice, nor is she good for food; but she is quarrelsome, preying, devouring, solitary, envious of others, proud and lofty, the plague and torment of all other birds or fowls of the air, an enemy to peace: she has horrible claws: feeds on serpents, fish, and carrion; snatching up geese, hares, lambs, &c. Gesner reports, that a certain Eagle's nest was found, wherein three hundred ducks, one hundred and sixty geese, forty hares and many fishes. An Eagle is very crafty: she fills her wings with dust, and gets upon a stag's horns, and beating the dust and sand into his eyes, she blinds him, and then soon conquers him. She carries shell-fish on high, letting them fall upon the rocks to break them, &c.

    DISPARITY

    IN all things there can be no greater disparity imaginable; and upon this account wicked men, or tyrants, are compared to Eagles.

    INFERENCES.

    I. Fly to Christ, to bear you upon his wings.

    II. To hide you under the wings of his gracious protection: "Under thy wings saith David, will I make my refuge, till these calamities be overpast," &c., Ps 57:1.